Week two of the 2017 college football season did not have the same last minute shockers that week one graced fans with, but Saturday, Sept. 9 was still a great day to watch athletes battle it out on the gridiron.
The Demon Deacons marched into Chestnut Hill and made quick work of the Boston College Eagles. Wake Forest was favored by only one and a half points and managed to win with a score of 34 to 10. This is one of the most impressive wins that Wake Forest has seen in years.
While the Demon Deacons have had extremely competent defenses for the past few years, the offense has routinely been lackluster. So far the same cannot be said about this year’s offense, which also put up 51 points in the home opener against Presbyterian. The win against Boston College was critical for the Demon Deacons because it provided them with their first ACC win of the season.
Further, in order for Wake Forest to put themselves in contention for another bowl appearance, winning their first four games, before facing what is arguably the toughest span of five games for any college team this season is extremely important. This coming Saturday the Demon Deacons will face Utah State.
While a number of week-two matchups were extremely lopsided in terms of talent, as college football fans have become accustomed to in the early weeks of the season, four games stood out above the rest.
The first noteworthy week-two matchup was No. 13 Georgia at No. 24 Notre Dame. The Bulldogs narrowly defeated the Fighting Irish with a score of 20 to 19. Freshman quarterback Jake Fromm made his first collegiate start in an extremely harsh South Bend environment, and was certainly aided by the help of senior running back duo Sony Michael and Nick Chubb. The pair is responsible for what is perhaps the best running attack in the nation, and their combined 185 yards delivered second year head coach Kirby Smart with perhaps his best victory at the helm of the Bulldogs.
Georgia is the favorite to win the SEC East and is certainly a force to be reckoned with. Next week they will take on the Fighting Irish on the fourth of November in South Bend.
While the Fighting Irish dominate this matchup historically, perhaps this could be the year for the Demon Deacons to bring home a victory from South Bend.
Another major matchup came out of South Carolina, where the No. 3 ranked Clemson Tiger defense dominated a number 15 ranked Auburn team, putting up 11 sacks on their way to an uneventful 14 to six victory. After Florida State’s embarrassing loss to Alabama in their opening game, Clemson is beginning to define itself once again as the class of the ACC.
Wake Forest will take on both Florida State and Clemson, playing the Seminoles at home on Sept. 30th, and then making the trip down south to face the Tigers in South Carolina a week later on Oct. 7.
Perhaps the biggest shock of the week was that No. 5 Oklahoma decimated Ohio State in Columbus. Head coach Lincoln Riley, in only his second game as the leader of the team, devised a game plan that was far too much for Urban Meyer, JT Barret and the Buckeyes. Further, Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield solidified himself as a legitimate contender for a Heisman. Other than in state rival Oklahoma State, the Sooners have few qualified challengers in the Big 12 and clearly look like the team to beat in that conference.
Finally, out west the No. 6 ranked USC Trojans cruised past the No. 14 Stanford Cardinal. USC and stud quarterback Sam Darnold look like a team with very few flaws that could impress in the post season.
Perhaps their biggest roadblock in the Pac 12 south, now that they knocked off Stanford, is their inter-city rival, No. 25 ranked UCLA, helmed by another outstanding quarterback in Josh Rosen. The two teams will face off in the Coliseum on Nov. 18.
